Katherine Gotham is assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/image-archive/images/authors/katherinegotham.jpg)
Katherine Gotham
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Rowan University
From this contributor
Measuring alexithymia in autistic people
Despite the growing interest in alexithymia in autism research, the tools commonly used to measure this trait may not work reliably in autistic populations. A new scoring method fills that gap.
![Illustration shows a woman thinking as she is surrounded by signs with feelings on them and question marks.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210330-Alexithymia844.jpg)
Measuring alexithymia in autistic people
Suicidal tendencies hard to spot in some people with autism
To effectively screen for suicidality in people with autism, we need to learn how to ask questions that lead to real answers.
![Illustration of people sitting at a party with looming shadows.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/suicide.jpg)
Suicidal tendencies hard to spot in some people with autism
Understanding aggression in autism
Two new studies explore the link between autism and aggression — a controversial connection that weighs heavily on individuals with the disorder and their families.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/image-archive/images/images-2014/blog2014/20141205gbloggothamrichleraggression.jpg)
Understanding aggression in autism
How persistent worrying might cause the blues
When individuals with autism see themselves as impaired and get stuck on those thoughts, they may become and stay depressed, says Katherine Gotham.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/image-archive/images/images-2014/blog2014/20140613guestbloggotham.jpg)
How persistent worrying might cause the blues
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.